THE CITY OF LIGHTS: HOW TO SPEND YOUR TIME IN PARIS
Ah… the city of lights! Paris has been a high destination bucket list city for as long as I can remember. Many people travel from all around the world to vacation in Paris for days, or even weeks. I had the blessing of simply spending 48 hours here… and it was so magical!
While the list of places to eat, things to visit, and activities to do in Paris is endless… I have shared 5 little tidbits of what I would recommend to partake in while visiting Paris!
VISIT THE EIFFEL TOWER (DUH)
FOR REALS. You can’t visit Paris without paying tribute to the Eiffel Tower. Now… I am not one for “tourist traps” and the like. BUT. The Eiffel Tower truly lives up to all the hype and all the glory! When I first saw this beauty, I literally just stood still and thought, “WOW”.
But if you’re looking to get some stellar photos of the Eiffel Tower, you better come prepared! I believe there are 2 main variables in snapping the most perfect photos… time and location. So, get your pen and notepad out!! Because I’m going to be going over where I believe you can snag the best photos and at what time!
Let’s start off with the easier variable… time. Plain and simple. EARLY MORNING. Now, I know… no one wants to wake up at the crack of dawn to get some photos. But trust me on this… YOU DO. Not only are you sacrificing your beauty sleep for a gorgeous photo, but you will be in love with the experience of it all. Let me share about my experience…
I was staying in a hotel, probably about 10 minutes, via taxi, to the Eiffel Tower. I called my taxi around 6:00 in the morning, and was absolutely to the Eiffel Tower by 6:30. I want to stress this… I ALWAYS value safety when I travel by myself. I would NOT recommend walking to the Eiffel Tower by your lonesome this early in the morning. Mainly because it’s pitch black outside and there is literally no one out and about on the streets. SAFETY FIRST. Okay… now that I’m done with my little safety spiel…
I arrived to the place where I wanted to take photos (I’ll touch on this more later) about 30 minutes before the sun was set to rise. And remember, this time will vary depending on what time of the year you visit Paris. Why did I get there so early? Because I wanted to secure “my spot”, and I wanted to catch the various colors of the sunrise. And how did this all turn out? JUST PERFECT.
It literally felt like I had the Eiffel Tower to myself!!! Besides a handful of city workers cleaning the surrounding areas, and about 5 other folks taking photos… I was all by myself! So, I spent my time finding the perfect place to take photos and set up all my equipment! Remember… I was all by myself, so I allowed for ample time to set up my tripod and camera settings.
Once the lighting was ideal, I started shooting away!! Pro tip: TAKE WAY MORE PHOTOS THAN YOU THINK YOU WANT. Hahaha! In my book, there’s no such thing as taking too many photos! I shot for about 2 hours, and by that time… there was a swarm of people around! So, I MEAN IT. If you want those perfectly posed Eiffel Tower photos, you NEED to get going early!!
Now, if you’re looking to simply get photos of the Eiffel Tower… I would recommend visiting during golden hour, at sunset. This way, you can still get beautiful photos with amazing lighting, and enjoy the ambiance of all the fun things around the Eiffel Tower! When I visited around sunset, I had such a pleasant time just walking around and taking it all in… and by taking it all in, I mean eating all the crêpes. Hehehe!
One thing not to forget about… the Eiffel Tower at night!!! It’s a true city of lights spectacular! Starting a little bit after sunset (when it’s completely dark), the Eiffel Tower will shimmer and shine on the hour until 1:00 AM, and until 2:00 AM in the summer. This glorious, little light show lasts for 5 minutes each hour. It’s definitely a magnificent sight, unlike anything you have ever seen before.
And now onto the second most important variable… location, location, location! There are so many gorgeous places to capture the beauty of the Eiffel Tower… but here are a few of my favorites!
-Trocadero-In my honest opinion, I think this is the best spot to take photos of the Eiffel Tower… especially if you also want to be in the photos! The area around Trocadero is rather large, so it gives you a wide range of photo options! My favorite photos come from the wall ledges and steps. I think these photos turn out the dreamiest, and you can see the glory of the entire Eiffel Tower in the background!
-Champ de Mars-This is the lovely green grass area and park surrounding the Eiffel Tower, on the exact opposite side of Trocadero. It’s a magnificent place to lay out your blanket, snack on a baguette, and just enjoy all that Paris has to offer. Oh yeah… it’s a gorgeous area to take photos!! Especially if the trees are flowering… and at sunset! SO PRETTY!!!
-Rue de l’Université-This little area is absolute perfection for ideal, quaint Paris photos. It’s made up of a little dead end street, with the Eiffel Tower in clear sight behind you! I would recommend getting here quite early in the morning, if you want to get photos with no cars parked on the street!
-Avenue de Camoens-If you’re looking to get a clean shot of the Eiffel Tower with picturesque French buildings along side you… then this is the place to go! It’s located on a little street, close by to the Trocadero. Again, I would recommend visiting here early on in the morning, as this is a popular place to take photos.
I will always remember laying eyes on the Eiffel Tower for the first time… a wave of pure joy and amazement just washed over me. I sincerely hope that when you visit Paris, this same feeling of pure bliss takes over you, and you remember these feelings for a lifetime.
GO ON A CAROUSEL TOUR
Did it ever occur to you to go around a city and view all the various carousels? Yeah, me neither. UNTIL… I started doing my research for Paris!! If you thought Paris was already a magical city… it just got even MORE magical! I’m going to give you a list of some of the most beautiful carousels in all of Paris, so you can see them (even ride them!!) for yourself!
First up, we have the 2 carousels right by the Eiffel Tower! These are extra magical, because if you’re lucky, you can snag a photo of you with the carousel AND the Eiffel Tower in the background! And besides a photo opportunity, it’s so serene to simply enjoy your time around the Eiffel Tower, all while listening to whimsical carousel music.
-Trocadero Carousel-You can find this carousel right by the Trocadero! The perfect plan? Hit up the area around Trocadero for sunrise photos, then head on over to see this carousel! If you walk down the Trocadero stairs towards the Eiffel Tower, this carousel will be on your right hand side. You can’t miss it!
-Eiffel Tower Carousel-And then right across the street is this carousel! This carousel is situated almost directly under the Eiffel Tower, and is so stunning!
-Hôtel de Ville Carousel-This was, by far, my favorite carousel!! For me, it all had to do with the location. This double decker carousel has the most stunning background… Hôtel de Ville! Talk about gorgeous French architecture!! I could have sat and watched this carousel go round and round for hours.
-Jardin des Tuileries Carousel-This was another one of my favorites… not only because of the beautiful design, but because I stumbled upon it completely by accident! There’s something so childlike and magical about finding something unplanned that makes you so happy! This carousel can be found in the Jardin des Tuileries park, which is super close to the Louvre. And then if you find you way to rue de Rivoli, and head right for a few blocks, you’ll come across the carousel at Hôtel de Ville!
A few other carousels that may peak your interest…
-Jardin des Plantes Carousel-While this may not be the most aesthetically pleasing of carousels, it may be the most unique! The animals on this carousel are all either extinct or endangered. So, you may be looking at riding a dinosaur, instead of a horse. Hehehe!
-Sacré Coeur Carousel-This carousel can be found in the 18th arrondissement, in the area of Montmartre. This is an absolutely beautiful part of Paris, and you will enjoy so much in this stunning neighborhood, besides just a pretty carousel.
While there are many more carousels scattered throughout the city, these are a few of my favorites! And you know what? Sometimes it’s simply the best when you’re just walking around and find yourself next to a carousel. In no other city will that be your reality. It’s pure magic! So, do yourself a favor… go on a carousel tour! You won’t regret it!
EAT ALL OF THE THINGS
ATTENTION. This is not a drill. I REPEAT. This is not a drill. You must eat all of the things in Paris!! This is literally the #1 phrase everyone told me before heading off to Paris. Everyone just kept telling me to eat. And guess what? They were 100% flipping right!! First up on my list to try? MACARONS.
Now, the biggest question. How on earth do you pick where to get macarons from?! With so many places to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to find out where you should go. So, what did I do? I turned to all the people I knew living in Paris and asked them! And every single person told me the exact same thing: Pierre Hermé.
And oooooh! They were so right. Hands down, the best macarons I have tasted in all my life! So fresh, so delicate, SO YUMMY. I got a box of 8 macarons, and literally loved every single flavor. I think my favorite flavor was “Ispahan”, which is a mixture of rose, litchi, and raspberry. SO GOOD.
There are multiple Pierre Hermé locations throughout Paris, but I really enjoyed going to the location that is a partner store with L’Occitane in the Champs-Élysées area. And BONUS. For all my Disney fans out there… just keep walking a little further, and you’ll reach the Disney Store! This Disney Store actually had so many unique French and Parisian Disney things. I was so happy!
For those wondering… Ladurée is actually located almost directly across the street from this Pierre Hermé location. I mention Ladurée because I know a lot of people, especially visiting from America, really do want to visit this place for their macarons. I mean, when in doubt, just visit both places. Haha!
Don’t forget about all the crêpes you must try too! I found with crêpes, I mainly just tried them from local street vendors when I passed by. There was no rhyme or reason to where I got my crêpes from. Long story short, they were all delightful! Don’t forget to try one with Nutella! Yummy!
Okay… I’m going to be honest. Out of everything, I probably indulged in croissants the most. I love croissants so much, and I knew I would be tasting the best of the best when in Paris. I literally lost count of how many croissants I ate. And I was only in Paris for 2 days. HA.
A funny thing I found out about Paris… I found this out on my own, and from the locals. It doesn’t matter if a bakery is considered a “chain”… the food is still absolutely amazing!! I stopped at Paul to try a croissant, along with a ham and cheese baguette… and I was in absolute carbohydrate Heaven! There are multiple Paul locations around Paris, but I visited the one in the Champs-Élysées area.
Here are some other places I would recommend for delectable croissants, pastries, and sandwiches…
-Eric Kayser-While there are multiple locations around Paris, and this is seen as a “chain”, it comes highly recommend from multiple travel bloggers, and local Parisian residents.
-Circus Bakery-If you’re looking for a savory cinnamon roll (bun), then you best head to Circus Bakery. But do so early in the morning, as these treats often will sell out! This petite bakery is located at: 63 Rue Galande, 75005, which is located in the 3rd arrondissement.
-Du Pain et des Idées-For all my croissant connoisseurs out there… this bakery is heard to have some of the best croissants in all of Paris! This croissant lover’s paradise is located at: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010, which is located in the 10th arrondissement.
-Utopie-Receiving multiple awards and recognitions as France’s best bakery, I think it’s safe to say that you should make a pit stop here. This award-winning bakery is located at: 20 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011, which is located in the 11th arrondissement.
-Stohrer-Coined the oldest bakery in Paris, this cute spot has been serving delightful goodies since 1730. I think that would be pretty nifty to say you went here! This bakery is located at: 51 rue Montorgueil, 75002, which is located in the 2nd arrondissement.
In all honesty though, whatever bakery you step foot into… you will walk out feeling on top of the world! In my mind, there are no “bad” bakeries in Paris!! And one of the best parts?! They are literally located on almost every corner! So, please… stop at a ton of Paris bakeries and take part in all the sweet goodness!
And one last place you must stop… especially if you dream about indulging in sweet hot chocolate… Angelina. When I heard about Angelina’s specialty hot chocolate, I knew I had to make a visit here! While it is very popular amongst tourists, I loved every second of it! And the hot chocolate was honestly the best I have ever tasted in my entire life!
So, what’s the secret to this life-changing hot chocolate? It’s described as “African” hot chocolate. The chocolate comes from various forms of cocoa from Niger, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. And the combination of these different types of cocoa make for a creamy, delectable, and fabulously delicious hot chocolate!
Looking for more than just hot chocolate? No worries! You can eat a delightful meal here, and indulge in many of their delightful sweet treats! You should even try their signature pastry, the Mont-Blanc! If you don’t want to wait in a tremendously long line, make advanced reservations online, straight from their website. Angelina is located at: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001, which is in the 1st arrondissement.
STAY AT ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE HOTELS EVER
If you have been following along with my blog posts for a while, you know I have a thing for unique and AWESOME places of lodging. Let’s just say… when I found this hotel in Paris, I knew I couldn’t pass it up!! And the name of that hotel? Vice Versa Hotel.
Now, what makes this hotel unique? EVERYTHING. But real talk. It’s a small boutique hotel that has completely themed itself after the 7 deadly sins. GAH. Have you ever heard of such a unique concept?! To refresh your memory… these are the 7 deadly sins: wrath, gluttony, greed, pride, envy, sloth, and lust. To see photos of all the various rooms, click here! I honestly wish I could have stayed in all of them… they all look so cool in their own way! And guess what? It’s a surprise as to what “sin” you’ll get until you check in! BUT WAIT. If you really love one room over the other, you can “guarantee your sin” by paying a little bit more. And that’s exactly what I did!
What sin did I choose? GLUTTONY. Only because I thought this was the cutest room! Hehe! But just take a look at how adorable this room is!! I fell in love the second I walked through the door! My favorite part? The macaron bed pillows!
One of the best perks to this hotel? A lovely breakfast buffet each morning! And when I say lovely, I really do mean lovely!! There were juices, pastries, cheese, and… ALL THE CROISSANTS I WANTED. Hahaha! And um, hello!! It’s in the cutest cafe ever!!
But I would just love to go over a few other aspects of this amazing hotel…
-The staff is exceptionally sweet! I do not speak any French, and they were so kind to me, and spoke fabulous English. For the record, I did try and speak as much French as I could! Hehe!
-There’s a bar in the lobby called, Honesty Bar. It’s a chic, little bar where you can create your own cocktail!
-If you’re looking for a relaxing time, descend into the basement and enjoy a hammam treatment. But be warned… the hammam does symbolize Hell. GULP.
To wrap it up, I honestly would have to say that the Vice Versa Hotel is the most uniquely themed hotel I have stayed in to date. From the overall theme, to the interior design… it’s definitely one of a kind! And one I would absolutely recommend staying in… at least once! But…
If you’re looking for a different kind of vibe for your Paris hotel experience… here are some other hotels I would recommend staying at…
-Hotel Le Lapin Blanc-Located in the Latin Quarter, this boutique hotel gives off all the fairytale vibes. I absolutely adore all the pastel colors, and dainty interior design touches. This hotel is located at: 41 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005, which is located in the 5th arrondissement.
-Hôtel des Grands Boulevards-This hotel was recommended to me by a local Parisian resident, and I will absolutely be staying here during my next visit to Paris! It boasts of romantic feels, and is adorned with soft and gentle colors. This hotel is located at: 17 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002, which is located in the 2nd arrondissement.
-Hôtel Da Vinci & Spa-If you love art, and are especially fond of Leonardo da Vinci, you will most likely fall in love with this hotel. Not only are the rooms immaculately designed, but this hotel also offers their own in-house spa. This hotel is located at: 25 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006, which is located in the 1st arrondissement.
When I was taking part in all my hotel research for Paris, I was pleasantly surprised at how many unique hotels the city offered! It was so difficult for me to choose where to stay because I wanted to stay in them all! Without a doubt, you will find the perfect hotel meant just for you!
JUST WALK AROUND
Now… this might seem like a stupid thing to recommend. But in Paris, it’s the BEST thing to recommend. While visiting Paris, I strongly encourage you to set aside at least a single day for simply walking around… with no agenda… with no purpose… just walk and explore. You will be amazed at all the beauty you will find. From local floral shops to heart locks on bridges… it’s all so dreamy, and it’s something you need to experience.
Many would argue that my time in Paris was much too short. But you know what? I think it was the perfect slice of Heaven for me on my little European getaway. And whenever you visit a place for such a short period of time, it gives you a better excuse to go back and visit again. Hehe! Peace out until next time, Paris.
Don’t forget to pin me!